Method and apparatus for accurately determining height coordinates in a satellite/laser positioning system

(19)

(11)

EP 1 918 732 A3

(12)	EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION

(88)	Date of publication A3:
	26.05.2010 Bulletin 2010/21

(43)	Date of publication A2:
	07.05.2008 Bulletin 2008/19

(21)	Application number: 07015975.1

(22)	Date of filing: 14.08.2007

(51)

International Patent Classification (IPC):

G01S 1/14^(2006.01)
G01S 17/46^(2006.01)

G01C 15/00^(2006.01)

(84)	Designated Contracting States:
	AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC MT NL PL PT RO SE SI SK TR
	Designated Extension States:
	AL BA HR MK RS

(30)

Priority:

03.11.2006 US 856710 P
20.06.2007 US 821058

(71)	Applicant: Topcon Positioning Systems, Inc.
	Livermore CA 94551 (US)

(72)	Inventor:
	Brabec, Vernon Joseph Livermore, California 94550 (US)

(74)	Representative: Kuhnen & Wacker
	Patent- und Rechtsanwaltsbüro Prinz-Ludwig-Strasse 40A 85354 Freising 85354 Freising (DE)

(54)	Method and apparatus for accurately determining height coordinates in a satellite/laser positioning system

(57) Disclosed is a method and apparatus for processing signals in a satellite/laser positioning system capable of generating location coordinates from received satellite signals and a received laser signal. A height coordinate bias value is maintained by a filter processor during periods when the laser signal is available. The height coordinate bias value represents an estimated difference between a satellite signal derived height coordinate and a laser signal derived height coordinate. During periods when the laser signal is available, the laser signal derived height coordinate is output. During periods when the laser signal is not available, a corrected height coordinate value is generated by applying the height coordinate bias value to the satellite signal derived height coordinate.

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